Love, Faith and Hope For Something Better

I've been considering this blog for a while, but it has taken a few months for me to marshal my thoughts.  First, let me explain that I do not usually bring religion with me into a public forum.  It's been my experience that it invites discussion on a platform that is ripe for misunderstanding and easy insult, i.e. the internet, when such issues would be much better approached on a personal level where worthwhile conversation could be had about disparate views face to face.  This does not mean, however, that I am not religious.  My belief in Jesus Christ as the Savior and His atonement for us is at the center of everything I am.  My understanding of the plan of salvation our Heavenly Father has provided for us gives me hope and perspective, and is frankly, the reason I get out of bed in the morning.  God's generosity and tender mercies in my life are innumerable and unmistakable and have created in me a sense of purpose and gratitude for every good thing I've been given -- and I've been given a lot.  Everything, in fact.  

So my point is this:  If you don't want to read about some of my religious beliefs, you should stop reading now.  If you want to argue theology with me, you should stop reading now.  And if you are interested in where you can find out more about what I believe, well, I can hook you up with somebody who would love to talk with you.  

In the wake of a thousand horrible things happening in the world recently (and not so recently), my heart has been heavy.  In the last month, we have seen shootings by and of police.  In the last week, the blatantly evil murder of pedestrians at a fireworks display.  There have been bombings in airports and mass murder in nightclubs and hosts of talking heads on news outlets trying to pinpoint the causes as each incident has occured.  It seems there are a lot -- people having too many guns, people not having enough guns, radical extremists, failed immigration policies, racisim, lack of respect for police officers and the job they do, advocacy groups overstepping boundaries, media spinning stories 24 hours a day, and on, and on, and on.  The violence isn't all.  I've reached my limit with the unrelenting flood of unkindness posted on every subject from parenting to what what I should look like in a swimsuit.  And did anyone ever think we would be having a debate over which bathroom it was appropriate to use?  Come. On. The internet has become a wasteland of vitriol and bitterness as people armed with arguments and statistics parse details and debate why we seem to have lost our collective mind.  For me, it comes down to one thing.  Hatred.  Hatred coupled with a lack of patience and understanding has been given more precedence and expression in our society than ever before.  The more pertinent question seems to be, Why?

I wish we knew.  I really do.  Maybe if we had a clearly defined catalyst, one solid reason why suddenly anarchy seems to be the rule of the day, maybe all our bickering would cease to matter and we could focus as a group on making it stop.  This, I know, will not happen.  The issues are too devisive and complex, the potential for evil to take advantage of the mundane is too great, and the easier wrong will continue to be more enticing than the harder right.  But can't we agree that this hatred for each other must be stopped??  It's a learned behavior.  Shouldn't we try to unlearn it?  Isn't that worth our most committed efforts?  We can, we should, and we have to try.  It is my firm belief that Satan is real, and what we are seeing in our world is the reflection of the devil coming into the height of his power.  I also believe it won't last; that good will triumph over evil as it always must, and that there are better days coming.  We all have a stake in making this happen.

First, we should be better at teaching and living tolerance.  It's a weird word, and lately I think we've got it muddled with "acceptance".  By definition, to tolerate something is to coexist with behavior or opinions one does not accept or agree with.  We are not the same, but that doesn't mean your beliefs are no more or less valid than mine. We will differ in lifestyle, religion, politics, and a million other ways.  That shouldn't stop us from respecting each other.  It also shouldn't lessen the courtesy we give each other to believe what we do without trying to impose on those beliefs.  The need to vilify everything that falls outside our personal world view is dangerous, and we need to just stop it.

Second, we need to actively reach for understanding.  Anger is easy, understanding takes work.  Sometimes it's work we don't even want to do because we've been hurt or become bitter or just want to be right.  Let's put away our pride, people.  Not easy, but necessary if we're going to keep some sanity in the world.  Let's put having peace above being right.

Third, we need to be better at love.  It's not all we need, but it's close.  There is a scripture in the Doctrine and Covenants that goes like this: "And in that day shall be heard of wars and rumors of wars, and the whole earth shall be in commotion, and men’s hearts shall fail them, and they shall say that Christ delayeth his coming until the end of the earth." (Doctrine and Covenants: Section 45) I've always taken that to mean that men will be afraid in the time before Christ returns, but I'm starting to wonder if the failure of men's hearts is literally that -- a failure of love, compassion, and empathy.  Think of what love accomplishes already in a world awash with tragedy (I always think of Mr. Rogers and his "helpers").  How much could we accomplish if we loved when we wanted to hate?  What would the complexion of the world be if our children could do the same?  As individuals, we can do much to change our current situation.  As parents, we can shape a generation.  Can't we do both?  

I realize that none of these things are simple.  Worse, it would be naive to think that any of them will be adopted wholesale by those who need to any time soon.  But, I would say that every one of us could do better; some of us, much better.  Raising compassionate, generous children is something every parent can aspire to, but it is the hardest, most time-intensive work a parent can undertake.  Becoming a tolerant, respectful adult is no less difficult, and I would venture to say that not many of us have fully achieved it.  It's hard to admit as an adult that you're wrong.  It can be painful to swallow your pride.  It can be unpolitically correct to say that evil exists in the world and our only hope to fight it is to be good.  Let's stop worrying who's judging us and do better with the people in our lives today.  Peace is possible in smaller ways while the storm goes on around us -- let's try THAT.  And then, pie. Because we all need pie.  And love.